On September 12, Apple unveiled the highly anticipated iPhone 15 series at its official launch event. The company also introduced the Apple Watch 9 series and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The focal point of the launch event was the introduction of USB-C-type ports on the iPhones, generating significant buzz.
Alongside this noteworthy change, Apple also unveiled a range of other significant and minor updates. Additionally, the event underscored Apple’s ambitious goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030, emphasising the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Today, we’ll focus on the base models: the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. These two smartphones are essentially identical, with variations in display size, dimensions, and price. Let us see what the phone delivers.
Specifications of Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
| Dimensions | iPhone 15 Height: 147.6mm Width: 71.6mm Depth: 7.80mm iPhone 15 Plus Height: 160.9mm Width: 77.8mm Depth: 7.80mm |
| Weight | 15: 171 grams 15 Plus: 201 grams |
| Display type | Super Retina XDR display OLED display |
| Display size | 15: 6.1-inch 15 Plus: 6.7-inch |
| Resolution | 15: 2,556 x 1,179 pixels at 460 ppi 15 Plus: 2,796 x 1,290 pixels at 460 ppi |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor |
| IP rating | IP68 dust/water resistant |
| Chipset | A16 Bionic chip |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2×3.46 GHz Everest + 4×2.02 GHz Sawtooth) |
| GPU | 5‑core GPU |
| OS | iOS 17 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Rear camera | 48MP Main: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) 12MP Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view |
| Selfie camera | 12MP camera ƒ/1.9 aperture |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| Sensors | Face ID Barometer High dynamic range gyro High-g accelerometer Proximity sensor Dual ambient light sensors |
| Battery | lithium-ion battery |
| Charging | USB Type-C Wired 15W wireless (MagSafe) 7.5W wireless (Qi) |
| Colours | Black | Blue | Green | Yellow | Pink |
| Price (expected) | iPhone 15 128GB: Rs 157,500 256GB: Rs 176,500 512GB: Rs 214,500 iPhone 15 Plus 128GB: Rs 176,500 256GB: Rs 195,500 512GB: Rs 233,500 |
Design and display
The Apple iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus are the same smartphones which just differ in the display size. The rest of the specs on both smartphones are similar. Both smartphones have an aerospace-grade aluminium casing.
The iPhones are not flat like last year’s iPhone 14 series. It now has slightly curved edges on the frame. On the back, it has a textured matte brushed glass finish. On the back, there is also a dual-camera setup which houses the new main camera sensor and ultra-wide camera sensor. The camera module is square with rounded edges in shape protected by a sapphire crystal lens cover.
On the front, the 15 and the 15 Plus both get the dynamic island feature which was available in last year’s Pro Models; the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Both of them still have the alert sliders on the left which is replaced by a physical button on the Pro models.
On the front, the 15 and 15 Plus have a 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display respectively. Both iPhones use Super Retina XDR and OLED technology. The 15 delivers a resolution of 2,556 x 1,179 pixels and the 15 Plus delivers 2,796 x 1,290 pixels resulting in a pixel density of 460 ppi respectively.
Both iPhones have haptic touch, true tone and HDR display features. The new iPhones now have a typical max brightness of 1,000 nits, an HDR peak brightness of 1,600 nits and an outdoor peak brightness of 2,000 nits. It is also IP68 dust and water-resistant.
Performance and storage
The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus share the same chipset, the A16 Bionic chip built on a 4nm process which was used in last year’s Pro Models. It has a Hexa-core CPU which comprises two high-performance cores, clocked at 3.46 GHz, and four energy-efficient cores at 2.02 GHz. For graphics, it relies on the Apple GPU with 5 cores. It operates on the latest iOS 17 operating system.
Both the 15 and 15 Plus are available in one RAM option of 6 GB and are paired with three storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB.
Camera
The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus both share the same dual-camera system which includes a new 48MP Main camera with a wide 26mm lens, a large ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, and support for super-high-resolution photos, providing options for 24MP and 48MP shots.
The other one is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera with a 13mm lens and ƒ/2.4 aperture, offering a wide 120° field of view. The camera enables 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out, and 4x optical zoom range, along with digital zoom capabilities up to 10x.
The cameras are loaded with features like true tone flash, photonic engine, deep fusion, smart HDR 5, next-generation portraits with focus and depth control, portrait lighting with six effects, night mode, panorama (up to 63MP), photographic styles, wide colour capture for photos and live photos, lens correction (Ultra Wide), advanced red‑eye correction, auto image stabilisation, burst mode, photo geotagging, Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG.
When it comes to video recording, both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus support 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps. You can also record 1,080p HD and 720p HD videos at 30 fps. Cinematic mode is available for up to 4K HDR recording at 30 fps, and there is an action mode for up to 2.8K at 60 fps. It also supports HDR video recording with Dolby Vision at up to 4K and slo-mo videos at 1,080p in 120 fps or 240 fps.
The rear camera boasts an array of impressive video features. These include time-lapse video with stabilisation, night mode time-lapse, QuickTake video, sensor-shift optical image stabilisation for video (Main), digital zoom capability up to 6x, audio zoom, true tone flash, cinematic video stabilisation across various resolutions (4K, 1,080p, and 720p), continuous autofocus in video mode, the ability to capture 8MP still photos while recording 4K video, playback zoom, and support for recording video in formats such as HEVC and H.264, along with stereo recording.
For selfies, both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus feature a 12MP front camera with a ƒ/1.9 aperture. The front camera also has features such as autofocus with focus pixels, retina flash, photonic engine, deep fusion, smart HDR 5, next-generation portraits with focus and depth control, portrait lighting with six effects, animoji and memoji, night mode, photographic styles, wide colour capture for photos and live photos, lens correction, auto image stabilisation and burst mode.
The front camera can also record 4K videos at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps. Cinematic mode can be used for up to 4K HDR recording at 30 fps, and slo-mo video is supported at 1,080p in 120 fps. Additionally, there’s time-lapse video with stabilisation, night mode time-lapse, QuickTake video, and cinematic video stabilisation at different resolutions.
Battery and others
The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus both share the same lithium-ion battery. The battery life is significantly improved. For charging, you can use the much more convenient USB Type-C Wired option. Yes, you heard it right, Apple phones now use USB Type-C ports. After over 12 years apple has changed from its in-house lighting cable to USB Type-C. For wireless charging, it supports 15W wireless charging through MagSafe technology, and using a Qi-compatible charger, it provides 7.5W wireless charge.
In terms of connectivity, the 15 and 15 Plus supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, for internet access. Bluetooth 5.3 lets users connect to other compatible devices. Both phones have stereo speakers for great audio quality. On the security front, Face ID ensures that your device is protected, and it comes equipped with various sensors like a barometer, high dynamic range gyro, high-g accelerometer, proximity sensor, and dual ambient light sensors to enhance your smartphone experience.
The iPhone 15 is available in a variety of attractive colours, including Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink
The expected price of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in Nepal are as follows:
| Model | Price |
| iPhone 15 | 128GB: Rs 157,500 256GB: Rs 176,500 512GB: Rs 214,500 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 128GB: Rs 176,500 256GB: Rs 195,500 512GB: Rs 233,500 |
